Customer Reviews

Phases Of The Moon: Traditional Chinese Music

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been searching for a CD of uncompromising traditional/classical Chinese music. This is not it. Most of the tracks are 1950s and 1960s performances by The Chinese Broadcasting Traditional Instruments Orchestra, with up to 70 members indeed playing traditional instruments but not in traditional ensembles. Instead these are "orchestral" compositions of early Communist China, with obviously westernized musical structures. Still they are not all bad. In fact, a couple of tracks are quite enjoyable, equal to and rather comparable to the ballet suites of Aaron Copeland. On the other hand, a couple of tracks are pure Hollywood epic music, and for those misbegotten moons I'm deducted a star. But notice the price! If you have any taste for muiscal travel, go ahead, buy it! It's surely worth the chance.

This is a selection of orchestral music, including some beautiful, grand and moving pieces, from all across China. It is played by a (communist) Chinese orchestra using traditional instruments, organised along modern (European) lines, and the resulting synthesis is one of enchanted magnificence and awe which truly reaches within the soul. It also conveys the mystery and potential of Chinese creativity and its powerful yet delicate beauty.

This release provides a wide spectrum of orchestral music from the many regions of China. Using traditional Chinese instruments, these musicians present a widely varied set of music that ranges from sublimely tranquil to inspirationaly rousing. Every selection is of outstanding quality. My favorites include The Moonlight Reflected on the Pool and The Dance of the Yao People.

I loved this CD!!! It was peaceful, relaxing and very enjoyable! I will recommend this CD to family and friends. It is the perfect instrumental CD for anytime of the day! Especially after a long day at work!

I got this out of my local library when they still had vinyl. I loved it so much, I taped it and learned all the melodies by heart. Now it's on CD and has good liner notes along with it. Highly recommended.

I bought this cd blindly, just wanting to expose myself and my child to world music. I am so impressed! The music is absolutely breath-taking! I feel moved each time I listen to it. I highly recommend this cd!

This delightful CD is surprisingly melodic and Western. It is "traditional" only in the sense that the instruments are traditional. Otherwise it sounds heavily influenced by the Occident. Which is not to detract from its beauty or the virtuosity of the musicians. One would have appreciated more informative liner notes.

The first time I put this cd in my radio, I instantly loved it. Now, every time I listen to this cd, I feel both relaxed and captivated. This cd truly has different "phases".

I was invited by my son's school to give a presentation on Chinese culture this past Chinese New Year (Feb 08). For music, I chose this CD and "Classical Chinese Folk Music".
This is a great starter CD if you want to learn traditional Chinese music. The pieces are performed in the 60s & 70s by a Chinese Orchestra using traditional instruments. The modernized music structures made it much more enjoyable (ambient) than the traditional way of playing - using fewer instruments, heavily ladden with emotional edge, due to Chinese music's moral or historical contents. That would have been much harder to swallow.
Check out "Classical Chinese Folk Music" next, which follows closer to traditions, but still very enjoyable.

The emotional range of this album is very wide, from songs of aching poignancy, to rousing dance tunes. Beautiful and exciting! This album makes me want to buy more Chinese music.